Jo

My family loved Bob. They surrounded him as if he were the queen of England. They fawned over him as if he were the late Tom Hanks. Bob didn't know what to make of all the positive attention. I surmised since they hadn't seen any other humans in such a long time that Bob had been elevated to celebrity status. He sat on the comfiest part of the green plaid couch with pink satin pillows tucked behind him and  a blue cashmere throw on his lap. He held a cup of cocoa in one hand and a piping hot cup of jasmine tea in the other. 

Bob didn't know which cup to put down so he opted for both. "Well thank you very much. I feel very um..."

As Beth placed a cork coaster under each mug she finished his sentence. "Special?"

When Bob heard Beth call him "special" he stood up quickly knocking over both warm liquids all over the small oval coffee table.

Amy rolled her eyes. "Ugh Bob. You made a mess!" Mind you, Amy only said this so she could show off. " I prefer this mess be cleaned up."

Instantly it was. It's not like things went backwards and the liquid slurped into the cups it was as if the spillage never happened.

Bob looked astonished. "I see your powers are becoming more honed."

Amy laughed, "I don't know about that but I am getting better at them."

Everyone laughed and for a moment we forgot it was the end of the world as we know it. Beth even squeezed her way between Bob and Amy on the sofa. She and Bob hooked pinkies. In the past everyone woulda ragged on them. "Oooooh look at the lovebirds!" Or sang, "Beth and Bobby sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g..." Not today. Today everyone merely sighed and let young love be.

Suddenly Meg stood up with Rory still holding her hand. Her blue eyes glazed over. As she spoke, our moment of normalcy melted like snow in summer. As she released her fiance's hand she let go of this world and saw into another. "I see..."

Bob glanced nervously at Beth. Beth put her hand on top of his to dispel his fears. She lifted her chin towards Meg and whispered, "Watch."

As Meg interpreted her vision a holy hush fell upon the cabin. "I see people in lines as far as the eye can see. They've been waiting a long time but they seem eager--hopeful even."

Amy interrupted. "What are they waiting for Meg?" Everyone shushed Amy.

Meg continued, "They believe they are being saved. They think this is the vaccine which will finally cure mankind of all mutated diseases. Men, women and children gladly kold out their right hand.

Amy interrupted. "That's not where you give a shot. I should know I'm a pretend doctor."
Again Beth shushed Amy.

Explain how she sees the PeaceMakers holding vaccine guns which  imprint an invisible symbol which is only seen under ultraviolet light. It's the same symbol on the flags, the money, the planes and tanks. It's the same symbol our mother drew in her journal. The triangle with three appendages with the evil eye in the center.

Amy huffs. "Peacemakers? Ha! More like peace breakers!"

Again Amy is reprimanded by everyone.

If anyone refuses the mark they can't buy or sell... They can't work or go to school. They can't vote or...

Explain how it gets worse... People who refuse the mark are carted away or Meg gasps or shot on sight. Wait there are some people fighting back... they are trying to warn those in line... I see four girls... young women who stand in front of the defectors... They are fighting, they are dying...

Amy blurts, "It's us obvs."

Meg comes out of her trance. "Yes Amy it was us."

Amy squeals. "Then what on earth are we supposed to do?"

I knew the answer. "We fight anyway."

Beth agreed in her own way. "Only with more faith."

I nodded. "Mom always said, 'Faith moves mountains.'"

Suddenly Dad stood up. He gasped then pointed. "I see... I see..."

Meg rushed to Dad's side putting her arm around his waist for stability. "What is it Dad? Are you having a vision too?"

Dad turned white as a ghost. "I see Mary..."

Meg looked confused. "You see the mother of Jesus?"

Amy blurted, "That can't be right. The bible teaches that Mary is not a god. She was just a regular girl like us." She smirked and pointed with her chin to me, Meg and Beth.  "Well, a regular girl like you guys anyway."

Dad's knees gave out. "No Amy... I see my Mary—your mother!" He collapsed to the floor.

Everyone rushed to Dad's aid. Aunt Catherine quickly bought him a cup of water. Uncle Jerry put a cool rag on his forehead. Beth gently placed a pillow under his head while dad continued to mumble and point toward the wood stove. "Mary... Mary..."

Then I looked up and saw our mother fully materialize in a "beam me up Scotty" sort of way (only with tons more grace.) In shock I asked the apparition, "Mom? Is that really you?"

Beth noticed Mom next. She gasped and grabbed onto my arm. I practically toppled over.  "Meg, is it possible for us to all have the same vision?"

Meg looked up and saw our mother younger and healthier than before she died. "Mom, is that really you? Are you a ghost or a vision?"

Without hesitation Amy squealed, ran over to our mother.  She hugged her tightly practically knocking her into the wood stove. "Mommy you're real. Oh you're really real!"

Rory, Bob, Aunt Catherine and Uncle Jerry instinctively stepped back so we could have our intimate moment.

Beth and Meg helped our father to his feet.  He slowly walked toward his bride. "Mary, you look as you did the day we were engaged. In fact you're wearing the baby blue sweater I gave you for your 21st birthday."

Amy clicked her tongue. "Ugh! How unromantic Dad. I can't believe you bought mom a sweater."

Mom reached out to hold Dad's hand "I love this sweater Reggie. You hid my engagement ring in the pocket."

Amy nodded. "Pretty cool Dad."

Amy did not fully grasp the holy happenings. "Amy that's what's cool?! Our mother is alive and she's standing in the cabin!"

Mother corrected me. "No Jo, I'm not alive but yes I'm standing here with all of you."

Everyone gave a collective, "Huh?"

Mom sighed. "Suffice it to say time is relative for me."

Suddenly the fog lifted. I shouted, "The journals! You have the gift of time travel!"

Mom blushed. Even in death she managed to be more humble than the rest of us put together. Mom explained,  "Well sort of. I can only travel to the future--to my family's future to be more specific."

Amy screeched, "Mom, are you really a freakin' time traveler?!"

Mom corrected, "Don't say 'freakin' Amy. But to answer your question, yes I can move through time. But that's not why I have this gift."

During this otherworldly experience Aunt Catherine made chamomile tea with honey and milk. Maybe she thought we could use a bit of 'serenity now?' 

Honestly I'd never been more calm in my entire life. As I listened to my mother--who happened to be the same age as myself mind you--the pieces of the Tetris Puzzle clicked into place. "Mom! Your journals! You weren't predicting our futures, you were seeing them!"

As Mom smiled shyly she began to fade from view.

My heart sank. "Mom, wait!! Will we see you again?"

"Of course Jo." Then she disappeared completely.

All of us continued to stare in the direction Mom had been for some time. We were afraid to move, afraid to speak of it. Then Amy blurted, "I wonder what your gift is Bob? Maybe you can walk through walls? Go on, give it a try."

I'm not sure why Bob listened to Amy. She hadn't even said, "I prefer."  Determined, Bob pushed back his chair from the old farm table and headed straight for the wall closest to the front door. As he neared the solid log wall he squinted bracing for impact. But much to his surprise and ours he tumbled through the sturdy logs and landed with a "Oomf" into an ice crusted snow drift.  We stifled laughing as we heard his muffled groans as he attempted to free himself from the snowy embankment icy grasp.  After climbing the stairs he attempted the ghost-like maneuver once more. Instead of walking through the closed door he banged into it. Icicles from the overhead eave fell and slithered down the neck of his sweatshirt. He shook his head and shivered. He attempted to pass through the door thrice more until realizing Amy had preferred his so-called ability. Angrily he banged on the front door. "Very funny Amy. Let me in!"

Amy snickered as she opened the front door.  "Come in Bob. We never lock the door."

Bob growled and shivered. Snow clung to his scruffy beard and long eyelashes. He stamped his feet leaving snowy boot prints on the welcome mat.

He glared at Amy. " I'll get you for this!"

Amy winked . "I prefer you didn't, Bob."

-The End-